August 2018 – President Peter Clee
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Purpose of Report
To Inform Council and community of activities and to provide the community at large with information that is important and noteworthy.
What’s been happening……
The Annual Report is nearly finished. Council is in a good financial position.
The council by-election for the 2 vacant council positions will be held on 22 September. Pre-polling will be available shortly. It is good to see that there is a number of candidates that have nominated and I wish all candidates well.
Work has finally got underway on the mandorah jetty electrical systems. Hopefully, very soon, we will be able to arrive back at Mandorah Jetty at night and have a lit walkway to the carpark. The lack of light on the jetty has been a real safety hazard. There are still 4 lights out on the jetty due to electrical wiring failure. Despite numerous telephone requests to the Department of Infrastructure requesting that the department install temporary lighting there was no action.
The Wagait Shire Council, five-year Strategic Plan has now well and truly expired. A meeting was held in August 2016 to start the ball rolling in the new 5-year plan however nothing has eventuated. Accordingly, council had decided to hold a public meeting to discuss the 5-year Strategic Plan. This has unfortunately, been put off again and again.
There has been much disquiet over the quality of the Council Minutes. I agree with the community demands for the minutes to be more informative. The argument that the Agenda should be read in conjunction with the minutes does not hold weight with me. The agenda is not an important document, whereas the minutes are the long-term record of the decisions of council and the reasons behind those decisions. Council is meant to be open and transparent, but the brevity of the current minutes over the last 6 months is unacceptable to me. Members of the public who feel the same as I do are encouraged to contact all councillors to make their feelings known.
Last month the CEO decided that council members needed to be provided with legal advice in relation to Code of Conduct and other matters. This had not been requested by council and was subsequently cancelled. The community now has a liability to meet the expenses incurred for this unauthorised and unnecessary legal advice.
Where have I been ….
21st Aug Ordinary Council Meeting 22nd Aug ABC Radio – Grass Roots 31st Aug ABC Radio – Wagait Shire By-Election 11th Sept Wagait Shire Audit Committee 11th Sept WSC – Meet with NT Grants Commission 12th Sept Meeting with CEO